Life Insurance – Vivek Jain, Chief Business Officer, Life Insurance, Policybazaar.com
“India is steadily moving towards deeper financialisation, with investors increasingly gravitating towards transparent, market-linked products. As one of the fastest-growing major economies, the country is entering a multi-year, consumption-driven phase of stable growth—creating a strong foundation for long-term wealth creation.
Equity-led instruments remain best positioned to deliver meaningful outcomes over the coming decade. The year 2025 reinforced a shift towards goal-based financial planning, with customers increasingly opting for long-term retirement and wealth solutions that incorporate Waiver of Premium, ensuring critical life goals stay on track even during unforeseen disruptions.
Younger investors, in particular, are showing remarkable financial savvy, preferring disciplined, long-term investing. With investment horizons of 20–30 years, equities are emerging as the core of retirement planning—capturing India’s structural growth, beating inflation over time, and leveraging the power of compounding. Disciplined equity participation is set to define successful long-term investing in the years ahead.
On the protection front, self-employed individuals are driving growth, with their share rising from 12% to 20% and expected to reach 25% soon. Demand is also deepening across Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, alongside a shift towards higher sum assured and more comprehensive protection. Riders like critical illness and waiver of premium are increasingly seen as essential components of holistic financial security, a trend that is expected to continue in 2026.”
Health Insurance – Amit Chhabra, Chief Business Officer, General Insurance, Policybazaar.com
“2025 was a year of historic reform, while 2026 is poised to be a year of historic adoption. The government’s exemption of 18% GST on individual and family health insurance premiums has made health coverage more affordable and unlocked demand in previously underserved regions.
Health insurance is being redefined through flexible, modular constructs—EMI options, smart deductibles, co-pay mechanisms, and preferred partner networks—making comprehensive protection accessible to a wider range of income segments. Renewal rates are at an all-time high, with growing adoption of multi-year plans and higher sum insured options.
Modern health plans now go beyond basic illness coverage, offering benefits such as mental health support, maternity coverage, Day-1 coverage for 145 medical conditions, and health management features like OPD coverage and reward-linked renewals.
Service quality is now central to growth. Consumers view policies as a promise of care rather than just a contract, emphasizing frictionless claims, hyper-responsiveness, and empathetic post-sale support. The focus has shifted from policy volume to the quality of claims experience, making insurance a trusted companion for families.”
Motor Insurance – Paras Pasricha, Head, Motor Insurance, Policybazaar.com
“Motor insurance is evolving to insure the driver, not just the car. Premiums are increasingly tied to individual driving behaviour using real-time data rather than static pricing. This allows low-usage and low-risk drivers to be priced fairly.
Regulatory changes have opened doors for product innovation, including multi-year motor policies, which are gaining traction as customers seek continuity and convenience. Third-party pricing revisions are expected to ensure system sustainability while supporting road safety.
Claims management remains critical. Faster, simpler, and clearer claims processes, enabled by digital touchpoints, will define the future of motor insurance by reducing friction and improving customer experience at the moment that matters most.”
Pension & Retirement – Vishwajeet Goel, Head, Pensionbazaar.com
“Recent policy changes have made retirement planning more flexible and attractive. Shorter lock-in periods, higher equity exposure, and easier access to accumulated savings have boosted confidence across age groups, encouraging wider adoption.
2026 is expected to see stronger participation from younger earners entering the workforce, with longer investment horizons and a growing focus on financial independence. Initiatives like the NPS e-Shramik framework are extending pension coverage to gig and platform workers through flexible, small-ticket contributions.
Retirement products are increasingly evaluated on transparency, flexibility, and long-term returns. Goal-based and early retirement planning trends, including the FIRE movement, are driving awareness and adoption. Combined with technology-led efficiencies, these trends are likely to strengthen the pension ecosystem and embed retirement planning as a core part of household financial planning, particularly for younger and first-time investors.”
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